Good Friday fines

Seventeen retailers across New Zealand face legal action after Department of Labour inspectors caught them trading during Friday's holiday.

The Department of Labour declined to name the offending businesses, nor what action it intended to take for trading on Good Friday.

Most of those caught were garden centres, although inspectors also caught three music shops breaking the law.

Last year dozens of shops ignored the ban, many choosing to pay a $1000 fine in order to keep their doors open.

The yearly bust-up between business owners, bureaucrats and unions over holiday trading bans continues this year with no resolution in sight.

The law bans all but a few retailers such as service stations, cafes and dairies from Easter Sunday trading.

Some tourist destinations in Queenstown and Taupo are also exempt.

- NZPA